A long-running Sydney live entertainment establishment on The Corso in Manly will soon close its doors for the last time.
The Old Manly Boatshed owner Goff Burgess announced the sad closure of the legacy venue in a Facebook post titled: 'The End of an Era'.
'Due to circumstances beyond our control, it is with deep sadness and regret, that after 38 years of continuous live entertainment, music, dancing, comedy, restaurant and bar, our beloved venue is being forced to close its doors,' Goff said.
Although he didn't provide a reason for the 'forced' closure, Goff added that it was a 'shock'.
'To say this is a shock is a total understatement,' he wrote.
'[W]hile it's hard to imagine Manly without The Boaty, what remains is the legacy we've built.
'For generations, it has become more than just a venue; it has been a piece of Manly's history.'
In his lengthy farewell tribute, the owner recapped the venue's storied history, starting with its establishment 'back in 1987' by Goff along with co-owner Grant McMinn.
The Old Manly Boatshed will shut its doors in mid September after 38-years of operation.
The venue's owner Goff Burgess announced the sad closure of the legacy venue in a Facebook post titled: 'The End of an Era'.
He also acknowledged that the venue had received help and support from their 'long time friends from Manly Surf and Rugby Clubs'.
From the time when it first opened, Goff explained that the live music and comedy venue quickly became 'an iconic Manly institution'.
'The Old Manly Boatshed has grown into Australia's longest running live music and comedy venue,' he added.
The owner reflected how, for many years, the establishment had come alive with bands, music, karaoke, comedians.
Countless patrons and performers alike had 'navigated their way down the iconic stairway into the beating heart of entertainment in Manly'.
Goff also offered a heartfelt 'thank you' to past and present staff, customers and entertainment acts.
'You filled this place with song, laughter and magic, and helped shape the Boaty into what it is,' he said.
'The Boatshed has always been a place where you never feel too old. We've always had a mixed patronage. It's a great leveller and has changed little over time.'
The Old Boatshed is a long-running establishment located on Manly's famous The Corso.
With the imminent closure still a few weeks away, Goff invited the public to 'come down and join us, before the final curtain is drawn in mid-September, to celebrate together'.
'We will go out the way we always have with good music, great times and plenty of laughter, and carry the Boaty's spirit into the next chapter of Manly's story,' Goff concluded.
The announcement quickly attracted conciliatory messages from local community members and venue patrons.
'Very sad news, Manly is about to lose an icon,' read one reply.
'Very sad. Such a massive loss to Manly's live entertainment,' added another.
Others reflected fondly on their favourite memories of nights out at 'The Boaty'.
'Very sad news, so many late nights with lots of dancing to a lot of great bands on stage.'
'[A]ll locals used to go there late at night,' added another.
'So many fun nights spent at the Boaty,' chimed in a third person.
One woman replied saying that she'd celebrated her 18th birthday there - and decades later returned to party again for her 50th birthday.
Some of the famous acts to have previously graced the stage of The Old Manly Boatshed have included Richard Clapton, The Badloves, Ian Moss, Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes and Diesel.